Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-07-08
WORK HOPEFULLY.
BY JULIA GOLDMAN.

OF all people in the world the temper
ance workers have the most reason to work
hopefully. Their cause is just and full of
promise, and it is bound to prevail if they
work for it, and everybody will be made
happier and better by it.
"Oh, yes" said one, II have faith in the
cause, but not in the people. There is so
much indifference, and nobody to do any
thing! 1t is the hardest work to get place
to hold meetings, or anybody to give out
notices or to attend. 1t is all uphill work!"
All the more reason for something being
done, and for our doing it. II everybody
was right the Lord would not need our
help. Now he will prize it all the more be-
cause there are so few to work. Certainly
Good is not unriehteous to forget your
work and labor of love-" And as for peo-
pie being all wrong, we must expect them
to change, and work as though we expected
it. Perhaps the time was when you and
were not all right on this question, or
When we did not work FOR it as we ought.
But we have changed, and others will
change; in fact, they are changing all the
time, and God wants our help about getting
them to change.
Dio Lewis used to find fault with the
people for believing in the "total deprav-
ity" of the rumsellers. One of the great
secrets of the success of the women in the
cruaude was their sublime audacity in ask
ing these people to do right, and expecting
God to help them. They are carrying out
the same principle still in asking all sorts
of people to do right in all sorts Of ways on
this temperance question, and expecting
them to do it. Cheerful as sunshine. per-
sistent as fate" Miss Willard says; and it
is most worthy saying.
And they not only ask others to do, but
how %ntr 1,1>}1
And why not? We want others to study
not we take hold and study and teach? Why
should not we take up course of reading?
Why should not we teach in the temper
ance school? Yes, it will involve self-de-
NAL, it will take time. But this great work
can't be done without Just such effort. Are
you willing to count one in it?
Eyes, willing to count one, but not will
ing to be the only one."
Of course not! That is why YOU should
work to win others, and the more cheer
fully you work the more surely you will win
them. Ii you have not much time to give,
study to give more, and give thought and
prayer to it. even when your hands are
busy. If you have not much money, give
what you can spare cheerfully, Just as you
entertain The Lord Himself il He should
Sou1C " NouL ttAciCs IL AA1OuS.N - oCdICt,
yours is SO much the more precious in the
sight of the Master Workman, and He will
make much of it. Perhaps you have to pay
for the catechisms out Of your own pocket.
Well, do not groan over that, but rejoice in
the thought that for every five cents YOU
have given some precious young soul is
learning that which will keep his whole life
pure and perhaps make him worker for
the salvation of others
But you do better still it, you have enough
hopetulness to teach these children to pay
for their own catechisms. If We spent half
as much thought in devising ways and
means Of inducing people to give as we do
in complaining because they do not give,
it might be more trouble at first, but it
would at last open streams Of benevolence
that would provide for abundance of work.
Yes, ours is a glorious cause, and we
have every reason to thank God for the
privilege Of working in it. 1t will succeed
if we work for it hopefully. God wants to
do part of it through us. Are we will
ing, and thankful for the privilege Then
just keep up the National Temperance
Course Of Reading" You will be sure to
get ideas that will help you to work more
effectively. Get some one else to take it
up, and that will make another worker, and
infuse into them your own hopeful spirit.
In all you do, work hopefully.